Not just the home of soccer
Nenagh AFC Brickfields has developed into one of the finest soccer facilities, not just in Tipperary but also throughout the country.
It boasts of two full-size grass pitches with additional grass training areas. It has probably the best clubhouse of any junior club nationwide, consisting of four spacious dressing rooms, toilets, boardroom and extensive space on the upper floor, which is being used for a host of club and other activities.
The recent completion of our 70m x 45m astroturf pitch has greatly increased footfall in Brickfields, not just with club members. Several non-national communities are now using it weekly for friendly soccer games and a chance to meet fellow countrymen and women.
The astroturf pitch is now also a vital part of the PE curriculum of local schools. Outside local clubs, private training agencies, divisional squads and others use the astroturf on a regular basis. The astroturf will be central to the upcoming summer camps over the summer school holiday period.
But Nenagh AFC Brickfields is now home to several other organisations and communities, as well as being the ideal venue for birthday parties and other social events. St Cronan’s Disability Services has been using the upstairs clubhouse as a training centre daily for the last two years. The service users are from the local community and also use the astroturf daily. The club is delighted with its association with St Cronan’s and hopes to strengthen ties even further in the future.
In recent weeks, a local Brazilian community used the upstairs facility as a meeting room for their prayer services every weekend. The kitchenette upstairs allows them and other users to include refreshments in their gatherings.
ORDER OF MALTA
Recently, The Nenagh Guardian reported that the local Order of Malta had to vacate the premises that they had been using. The committee of Nenagh AFC stepped in and offered the use of its boardroom and now the Order has weekly meetings there with the option of using it as a base for First Aid training. Eileen Finn, spokesperson for the Order of Malta, said that her organisation was delighted to have the use of the Brickfields facilities for their meetings and training purposes.
The Brickfields complex is regularly a hive of activity, whether it is midweek or at weekends. The new soccer season begins in August and both adult and juvenile teams will be returning to training in the coming weeks.
Running any soccer club with such facilities is very expensive and the committee is constantly fundraising. The 10th anniversary Frank Maher Memorial Golf Classic takes place in Nenagh Golf Club on Friday, July 25. Enquiries to Mick Buckley at 087 6606363. With registration for the coming season just around the corner, the club is seeking all families with juveniles playing to join our club Lotto, along with all adult players.
The club ran a very successful seven-a-side tournament for the last two weeks with 14 teams taking part, drawn from club and visiting teams, with a large representation of our local non-national communities as well as those locals who just want to play soccer socially. Large crowds attended each night with the finals being played last Friday.
The committee continues to upgrade the facilities in Brickfields with solar panelling, a lighting upgrade as well as perimeter netting, all due to be started and completed in the coming months. The job of the committee is greatly assisted by everyone who supports our facilities, making it a home for everyone.